Candidates: Bypass Would Be Economic Disaster

Few differences emerged among the three Democratic candidates for Gila County District 2 Supervisor as they spoke at a recent candidate forum.

All three oppose building a highway to bypass Payson, and all support a reinvigorated logging industry to mitigate risk of a devastating fire. Each also judge Payson's court facilities inadequate, though none offered an alternative.

Bill Backes

Payson resident Bill Backes, Globe resident Mike Pastor and Miami resident Danny Michels spoke to roughly 40 people at the Citizens Awareness Committee candidate forum in Payson. Improving county court and jail facilities was heavily discussed, and was the only question asked of both the sheriff and county supervisor candidates.

"Boy this is a hot issue," said Michels. "Obviously the voters did not want to support a tax increase." He spoke of last year's failed ballot measure to finance new and expanded courthouse and jail facilities in Globe and Payson.

Although against new taxes, Michels supported action before the U.S. Department of Justice intervened.

Backes agreed that the justice department could force a solution. "Anytime you're forced to do something, then you know it's going to cost more money," he said.

Calling Payson's courthouse a "postage stamp," Backes joked that the supervisor's office hasn't changed in 15 years. "I think they still have the same boxes piled up."

"That is the goal of the community college and that's with the blessing of EAC, believe it or not."

Backes commented on the situation's economic absurdity. "Whatever we're purchasing, we get to pay an extra 25 percent to Eastern Arizona College," Backes said. "If you want that (independence) to happen, we have to lobby for it and put me on the list to help."

Mike Pastor

Michels said, "I'm not opposed to lobbying for our own college.

In a campaign season where almost every county supervisor candidate has questioned the county's fiscal conservatism, CAC asked the candidates where they stood on taxes.

Backes said, "I voted with you last November on that half-cent sales tax. Sorry John, but we've got to find another way." He was speaking to Sheriff John Armer who spoke earlier that afternoon at the candidate forum.

Backes provided a miniature property tax lesson, noting that in 2006, Arizona voters amended the state constitution to set base property tax rates at 2005 levels and allow a 2 percent increase in the total amount collected each year.

While the county tax rate has dropped every year since 2005, some homeowners have seen property tax increases if their assessed values rose. In theory, growth can pay the difference, but if assessed values increase, so can property taxes, even if the rate stays consistent.

He said that while the measure may have proved beneficial for wealthier and more urban counties like Maricopa, with skyrocketing property values, rural Gila County suffers from it.

While Payson generally experienced healthy property values in 2005, southern Gila County was economically depressed. Now, with stirring economic activity, the county's ability to collect taxes is stifled by its 2005 property values.

Last year's county budget was roughly $75 million, and Backes said $18 million of that came from property taxes. "I have to commend them (supervisors) for their ingenuity," he said.